Gandhi was the greatest actor in Indian history: Tom Alter

AHMEDABAD: Actor Tom Alter and danseuse Mrinalini Sarabhai will do a reading of letters exchanged between Mahatma Gandhi and Sarojini Naidu till the former���s death in 1948. The letters tell the tale of freedom struggle and a deep probing relationship between the two.

The script of the 15-minute performance to be hosted at Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) on Thursday has been adapted from the book ���The Mahatma and the Poetess��� compiled by ES Reddy and edited by Sarabhai.

Talking to TOI on the eve of the event, Alter said, ���As an artist, I can say Gandhi was the greatest actor in Indian history. From the viceroy to poor farmer, he interacted with them with equal concern. It is shocking that Gandhi lived only five-and-a-half months after Independence. In fact, we killed him.���

���Gandhi and Sarojini had a great relationship. They shared serious issues with humour. Gandhi used to call Sarojini ���Bulbul-e-Hind ,��� said Alter. Alter himself believes in Gandhian values. He recounts how he collected material regarding Gandhi���s life after Independence and says, ���The five-and-a-half months that he lived after Independence were the gist of Gandhi���s life.���